Experts at DOA annual TMT business series discuss Nigeria’s digital future

Commercial law firm Duale, Ovia & Alex-Adedipe (DOA) recently convened a high-powered gathering of policymakers, investors, founders, and regulators for its 4th Annual TMT Business Series.

Under the theme, “Beyond the Startup Frenzy: Building the Infrastructure for a Digital Nigeria,” the forum served as a critical platform to move beyond the initial excitement of the startup boom and strategically chart the course for Nigeria’s robust digital economy.

The series kicked off with Omowunmi Sanni, a DOA Partner, who emphasised the urgent need for strengthening the legal, financial, and regulatory systems to foster scalable innovation. She reiterated DOA’s commitment to enabling business growth through strategic legal support and cross-sector collaboration.

The keynote address was delivered by Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. Tijani spotlighted national initiatives designed to propel Nigeria’s digital transformation, including the 3 million Technical Talent (3MTT) Program, the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, and the country’s ambitious broadband expansion goals.

He stressed the paramount importance of digital infrastructure and inclusive policy frameworks in bridging economic divides and driving long-term transformation.

During a subsequent fireside chat moderated by Lehle Balde, Tijani further underscored the foundational role of identity systems, payment infrastructure, and data interoperability in building a truly competitive digital economy.

The forum then delved into two expert-led panels. The first, “Tech Profitability Playbook – Who’s Really Winning?”, moderated by Esohe Ibinoba (Venture Builder), featured industry veterans like Ashim Egunjobi (Managing Partner, Octerra Capital) and Dr. Dotun Olowoporoku (Managing Partner, Ventures Platform). Discussions revolved around crucial aspects such as sustainability, value creation, founder evolution, and the imperative to digitize Nigeria’s informal sector.

The second panel, “Innovation & Regulation – Finding Common Ground,” moderated by Morayo Adebayo Adisa (Director, Government Affairs and Policy, Mastercard, West Africa), brought together key figures including Olatunbosun Alake (Commissioner, Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Lagos State) and Florence Abebe (Head of Legal, FCCPC). This session explored vital themes like inclusive policymaking, regulatory agility, consumer protection, compliance by design, and the implementation of regulatory sandboxes for digital innovation.

A key highlight of the event was the highly anticipated pitch competition, where eleven innovative startups showcased solutions spanning health, fintech, sustainability, and education. Trashcoin Limited emerged as the grand winner, receiving N10 million in legal services. Kryptr IP Enterprise Limited and Pay U Technology Ltd also secured significant legal representation awards of N5 million and N3 million, respectively. The judging panel featured prominent investors such as Iretimipo Kukoyi (Managing Partner, Kaleo Ventures) and Yomi Jemibewon (Co-Founder, CardinalStone Capital Advisers).

The 2025 edition of the TMT Business Series unequivocally reinforced DOA’s position as a crucial legal partner in building the essential systems and structures that will power Nigeria’s burgeoning digital future.

Omowunmi Sanni, Partner, DOA; Adeleke Alex-Adedipe, Managing Partner, DOA; Damilola Daramola, CTO, Trashcoin; Simisola Eyisanmi, Partner, DOA; and Adeniyi Duale Founding Partner, DOA at the 2025 edition of the TMT Business Series.